The observations of a father and a son, translated…
On the major intersections of the city of Taipei, in recent years, there would be physically handicapped, the incapacitated, in the red light, in the midst of traffic, passing out the flyers, selling the Ylang Ylang flowers, to make their own ends meet.
not my photo…
As Loo Chang saw the elderly, the handicapped laborers walking about our car, he’d turned to ask me, “Daddy, why are they selling stuff here?”
“Because they are less able, there may not be chances for them, to make other sorts of living, and so, they can only, come out in the rains, in the air pollutions, and risk getting ticketed by the police, worked hard, but making, a dignified way of living on their own.”
After Loo Chang heard, he became angered, said, “Then, how come the police are ticketing them? I will, KILL the police!”
And that would be, the exaggerated methods of a child, proclaiming his dissatisfactions against the world, and the adults needed not rush to correct them, just needed to be, more patient, and guide them toward, the right directions. I’d told him, “The police are not the bad guys, and even if it’s the bad guys, you just can’t, hurt them, because if you hurt them, you are then, wrong. The police would write them up, simply because it’s dangerous in the intersections, and they shouldn’t be selling things there, other than breaking the laws, they’d also, put themselves, as well as others, in danger, they can easily, get hurt by the coming traffic.”
Loo Chang said, “I shall, build a very BIG shopping mall in the future, so they can all, sell their items inside!”
I’d stated, “What, a GRRREEAT idea! You can help more people, and you will be, happier and happier because of it too!”
Grandma who was also there all of a sudden, started complaining of how awful her life had been, how she’d only gotten a thousand dollars every two days to spend leisurely. At this time, I’d told my mom, to take a look outside the window, to see the elderly woman who was, unsteady, as she trekked in coming traffic, said, “Mom look, you are already, very blessed, if you have an awful life, then, it should be you, who’s out there, selling those ylang ylang flowers! How will you have the life you have now, getting taken, to the seaside, to that seafood place?”
I’d originally hoped, that my mother would feel better at the comparisons, but, she’d replied, “Fine then, I will come here early in the morn, to sell the ylang ylang flowers, and, I’ll tell everybody, that my son is a school instructor, told me to sell the ylang ylang flowers on the roads! My son is a school instructor, told me to sell the ylang ylang flowers on the roads!……… (I’d eliminated the repeated claims here)”.
After Loo Chang understood what Grandma was ranting on, he’d interjected, “Grandma, you can come into the mall that I will be owning in the future, and just sell the flowers there!”
still NOT my photograph…
This, is very cute, isn’t it? But, in the midst, of ALL of this cuteness, there is, something to be learned, why is it, that those who needed the help aren’t getting it from the government? I mean, surely, they should not rely completely on the government to assist them in living, but, many of these individuals are using what they have, making their ends meet in their own means, and that, should be looked upon as something good, but, how many MORE cases of people, using the public’s sympathies, taking advantage of the kindness of the people there are? Makes you wonders, doesn’t it???